City administrator says he will take Facebook page down

Published: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 08:39 PM.

MEXICO BEACH — For a man whose job was theoretically on the line, Mexico Beach City Administrator Chris Hubbard didn’t seem nervous when he addressed the City Council during a special meeting Tuesday.

Before the council voted 3-2 to add a written reprimand to his file for inflammatory Facebook posts, Hubbard was confident enough to joke about the rumors sweeping this sleepy beach community. He told a standing-room-only crowd that he wished just 10 percent of the rumors were true “because I’d be living a great life right now.”

Aside from rumors that Hubbard administered a Facebook page called “Guerrilla Patriot,” which he admitted to, there was speculation during Tuesday’s meeting about Hubbard’s relationships with another city employee, his prior work experience with now-defunct Cedar Grove and his arrest record. Hubbard said he’s not hiding from his past; yes, he was once arrested on suspicion of battering his then-girlfriend on Front Beach Road, but he called it a misunderstanding and pointed out the charges were dropped.

“I am not a woman abuser,” he said.

As for the Facebook page, Hubbard agreed most of the posts reflected a conservative perspective and he was merely exercising his right to free speech. Councilwoman Tanya Castro said the posts could be considered offensive from a racial and religious point of view. Castro said she was disappointed the council only reprimanded Hubbard.

“I think the council should’ve taken stronger action,” Castro said. “We just tonight sent a strong message to our employees that it’s really OK.”

MEXICO BEACH — For a man whose job was theoretically on the line, Mexico Beach City Administrator Chris Hubbard didn’t seem nervous when he addressed the City Council during a special meeting Tuesday.

Before the council voted 3-2 to add a written reprimand to his file for inflammatory Facebook posts, Hubbard was confident enough to joke about the rumors sweeping this sleepy beach community. He told a standing-room-only crowd that he wished just 10 percent of the rumors were true “because I’d be living a great life right now.”

Aside from rumors that Hubbard administered a Facebook page called “Guerrilla Patriot,” which he admitted to, there was speculation during Tuesday’s meeting about Hubbard’s relationships with another city employee, his prior work experience with now-defunct Cedar Grove and his arrest record. Hubbard said he’s not hiding from his past; yes, he was once arrested on suspicion of battering his then-girlfriend on Front Beach Road, but he called it a misunderstanding and pointed out the charges were dropped.

“I am not a woman abuser,” he said.

As for the Facebook page, Hubbard agreed most of the posts reflected a conservative perspective and he was merely exercising his right to free speech. Councilwoman Tanya Castro said the posts could be considered offensive from a racial and religious point of view. Castro said she was disappointed the council only reprimanded Hubbard.

“I think the council should’ve taken stronger action,” Castro said. “We just tonight sent a strong message to our employees that it’s really OK.”

Hubbard accused the people who spoke in favor of his termination of character assassination. He said after the meeting that the Facebook page is still active, but he planned to take it down. The contents of the page were not public late Tuesday.

Hubbard was not without supporters; those who spoke positively about his job performance received applause.

Mayor Al Cathey instructed a police officer in attendance to remove a woman who asked if the council was aware of Hubbard’s arrest record when he was hired. Cathey said Hubbard’s record was not relevant to the discussion and the woman was returned to her seat.

She declined to give her name after the meeting, but she said she was not surprised when Cathey silenced her “because I raised issues that they didn’t want to talk about.”

Cathey said Hubbard’s actions reflected poorly on Mexico Beach and he was “absolutely disappointed,” but they didn’t warrant termination.

“It’s my opinion that the city administrator cast the city in a bad light. … I don’t think it’s something that he deserves to be let go over,” Cathey said.

Voting with Cathey in support of the reprimand were Councilmen Robert Pollock and Jack Mullen. Castro voted against it, as did Councilman Lanny Howell, who said he felt the reprimand went too far.